London’s most delightfully silly chimney sweep, Jim Chimney, performs at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Zoart Photography
Sing-along with the lively and talented performers in the raucous Mad Sal’s Dockside Ale House inside the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Zoart Photography
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Whether searching for handcrafted treasures at a makers fair or hearkening back to Christmas past while decked out in Victorian-era regalia, the holiday season shines a light on the Bay Area’s artistic flair. Here are just a handful of crafts and holiday fairs on the calendar for this year.
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair features historical characters, including lamplighters.
Rich Yee
Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party
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The ultimate catalyst for Christmas cheer takes place over five weekends at the Cow Palace when the venue transforms into the Great Dickens Christmas Fair & Victorian Holiday Party, now celebrating its 39th year. Costumed characters bring to life the 4 acres of tea rooms, pubs, dance halls, lamplit shops and entertainment stages with the likes of Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim sauntering alongside chimney sweeps and carolers. Guests can explore on their own or book complimentary guided tours, such as a Port and Chocolate Tasting, a Jekyll and Hyde Pub Crawl or even meeting Father Christmas.
The fair features more than 100 crafts carts, stalls and shops as well as handcrafted food and drink. Young revelers can participate in interactive shows at the Tinsley Green Children’s Area, or take a ride on the Adventure Carousel, which is powered by hand. Single-day tickets range from $18-$45 and season passes are available for $160. (10 a.m.-6 p.m. on five weekends through Dec. 17; Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City)
West Coast Craft
West Coast Craft, which launched in 2013, highlights local artists and designers and features a wide variety of crafts including textiles, ceramics, glass art, jewelry, furniture clothing and more. Held at the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, more than 100 vendors participate at its multi- and single-day holiday marketplaces. Entry is free. (10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 16, Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco)
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A man dressed as Charles Dickens performs at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Zoart Photography
Creativity Explored Holiday Art Pop-Up Shop
Creativity Explored holds its third annual pop-up market in the Ferry Building featuring original drawings, tapestries, paintings, ceramics and other crafts by neurodiverse and disabled local artists. The artists earn income directly from each sale. Entry is free. (9 a.m.-3 p.m., every Saturday through Dec. 16; Ferry Building, Suite 31, San Francisco)
Head West Marketplace
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Head West Marketplace prides itself as being a community dedicated to “strengthening its relationship with the local economy, and celebrating diversity through the passion for connecting people in equitable spaces and shared experiences.” It offers artists the space to display their handmade crafts and designs at a variety of holiday markets around the Bay Area, including Sebastopol and Alameda. Each marketplace also features Bay Area musicians as well as a mix of cafes, restaurants and food trucks. Entry is free, and pets are welcome. (11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10, the Barlow, 6770 McKinley St., Sebastopol; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 17, St. George Spirits, 2601 Monarch St., Alameda)
Kids work on creating a Fairy House or painting ceramic ornaments at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Rich Yee
Yule Midwinter Market
The West Alameda Business Association invites visitors to explore all things magical at its annual Yule Winter Market. The open-air market is a vehicle to drive locals and visitors to the West End Arts District of Alameda, bringing together more than 30 local vendors, artists, tarot readers, healers and more. There is also a section dedicated to kids offering hot cocoa, games and other entertainment. Entry is free. (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 16, Healing Garden/Al Fresco Dining Park, 1435 Webster St., Alameda)
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40th Annual Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair
A festively decked out Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley is home to another long-held holiday tradition, the Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair, now in its 40th year. The fair features more than 200 Northern California-based artisans with an emphasis on unique and unusual creations. Alongside the crafts, shoppers will be able to enjoy entertainment, including local musicians. Entry is free. (11 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 9-10, 16-17, 23-24; between Dwight Way and Bancroft Way, Berkeley)
A child rides on the hand-powered Adventure Carousel at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
Rich Yee
San Jose Winter Wonder Market 2023
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SJ Made, founded in 2011 with the aim of helping small businesses grow with pop-up retail and micro-retail storefronts, is hosting its first San Jose Winter Wonder Market, which will feature more than 150 makers and small businesses. Admission is free. The first 1,000 attendees each day receive a free door giveaway. (Winter Wonder Market: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 16-17; Westgate Center, 1600 Saratoga Ave., San Jose)
Experience the German International School of Silicon Valley German Holiday Market at Mountain View City Hall Plaza on Dec. 9.
Andrea Rowe
German Holiday Market 2023
The German International School of Silicon Valley is presenting the German Holiday Market at Mountain View City Hall Plaza. The open-air market has a distinctly German twist with warm mulled wine (gluhwein), seasonal German food, a sing-along and gifts from Germany as well as local artists. All proceeds from the market benefit the nonprofit preschool through grade 12 bilingual school with campuses in Mountain View and San Francisco. (11 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 9, Mountain View City Hall Plaza, 500 Castro St.)
